The Chargers safety worked this offseason to recover from January reconstructive knee surgery. He missed all of the spring and joined the team mid-training camp after his rookie season ended last December with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

This August, Taylor was making progress.

He appeared in the third exhibition game. He was days away from the fourth.

"One day at practice I was doing special teams, and I got hit in the knee," Taylor said. "That set me back."

It is unclear when the former third-round pick will make his season debut.

But he continues to put the knee injury behind him, working as a full participant in practice all season. This is the third straight practice week he didn't appear on the Chargers injury report.

"Each guy is going to react differently to surgeries," defensive coordinator John Pagano said. "I'm no doctor. I'm not a medical guy. But it's about keeping players safe and the opportunity to go out there. Once he grows more confidence playing on that leg and cutting out here on the field, he's going to have a role for us, and he's going to have a big-time role for us. It's safe to say it's fair to him to give him that opportunity to keep (improving) without putting him in a (game) situation."

San Diego has had the luxury of not rushing back Taylor.

No safety on the roster has missed time in recent weeks, and there is a set rotation, as Eric Weddle and Marcus Gilchrist start, undrafted rookie safety Jahleel Addae is the third safety in the dime package, and Darrell Stuckey captains the special teams.

"It's coming along real good, especially the last two weeks," Taylor said. "I'm staying in it mentally, getting my reps and working full speed, taking advantage of it."